The holiday season is a time to be thankful for the company of friends and family. At NPT, we are thankful to our extended family of supporters for their involvement in our mission to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow. As 2012 comes to a close, we have protected hundreds of acres of land and have engaged over 9,000 students with our parks across the nation.

None of these successes would have been possible without our supporters. Please enjoy this video, which highlights the greatest moments of 2012 for NPT and our work to fulfill our mission. Thank you again and we look forward to working with you in 2013!

Ranger Nathan King visits Sunshine students

ECC's Daryl Wallace and the Red-Tailed Hawk

NPT Brings the Parks to Students in Washington, DC Area

Despite winter’s cold grip on the East Coast, NPT is still working to engage students in Washington, DC and Maryland with the great outdoors. NPT’s education director, William Schrack stated, “With the holidays upon us and colder temperatures in the air, we encourage kids to bundle up and get out to our parks whenever they can with family and friends. However, if the weather is inclement, it may be the perfect time to bring park experiences to our Buddy Bison schools through classroom visits from rangers and other conservation educators.” This month, NPT and its partners brought the parks to the students at Sunshine Early Learning Center, Brent Elementary School, Beauvoir-The National Cathedral Elementary School, and the Bullis School.

At Sunshine Elementary, National Mall Ranger Nathan King shared natural artifacts from the capitol area and taught the pre-K students about the trees growing in their community. For the students at neighboring Brent Elementary, Daryl Wallace from the Earth Conservation Corps (ECC) brought a Red-Tailed Hawk, Harris Hawk, and a Eurasian Eagle Owl. Buddy Bison read and acted out a book from one of his adventures for the students at Beauvoir and NPT’s William Schrack talked to the Bullis students about his experiences with nature and conservation.

Sylvia Earle

Leadership Council Member, Sylvia Earle on the Conservation of Drakes Estero in California

This month, NPT is proud to feature an article that its leadership council member, Sylvia Earle, wrote in the Sacramento Bee regarding the Department of the Interior's decision to protect Drakes Estero:

There is a legendary place along Northern California's coast where the ocean meets the land, a natural haven for birds, fish, harbor seals, and humans. Held sacred by coastal Miwoks who used to inhabit the area, this shallow, glove-shaped extension of the Pacific Ocean called Drakes Estero, is part of the spectacular Point Reyes National Seashore. Already part of the National Park System, Drakes Estero became on Dec. 1 the first protected marine wilderness on the nation's Western coast, an enduring legacy for the people of this country. Read more…

90,000 Acres Donated for Public Use in Southern Colorado

Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area

This month, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a historic agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and private company, Blanca Ranch Holdings, LLC to place 90,000 acres of land into a perpetual conservation easement. Blanca Ranch’s principal owner and conservationist, Louis Bacon agreed to donate the land for the newly established Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area.

Located in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the conservation easement is the largest single land donation held by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Secretary Salazar stated, “Today’s announcement embodies a new era of conservation – one where private landowners, the local community and the government work hand-in-hand to preserve treasured areas on a truly landscape scale.” The donated property will complete the 170,000 acre Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area and will make it one of the longest wildlife corridors in the world.

Order Your 2013 NPT Calendar Before the New Year!

Want to easily see the best parks our country has to offer and learn more about the exciting projects of NPT? Then order your 2013 NPT Calendar! Inside, you can see our work to protect Glacier National Park, Zion National Park, and the endangered desert tortoise near Mojave National Preserve. The calendar is also a great way to keep up with the park adventures of our Buddy Bison schools around the country—when planning your own adventures, make sure to mark Saturday, May 18th, as National Kids to Parks Day! Order your calendar online, by emailing Buddy at buddy@buddybison.org, or by contacting Justin Martinez at (301) 279-7275x19. All proceeds from the sales of the calendars benefit our park preservation programs.

Buddy Bison Makes the Perfect Gift This Holiday Season!

He’s woolly, ready for adventure, and he makes a great holiday gift! This month, give the gift of outdoor exploration with a Buddy Bison or Buddy Bison T-shirt to a loved one. NPT’s online store makes it easy to do your holiday shopping. Place your order today online or by phone at (301) 279-7275 to ensure delivery in time for the holidays! Proceeds from the sale of Buddy Bisons will fund one-of-a-kind park experiences for our students. Buy a Buddy Bison and help send a kid to a park!

Cunningham Falls State Park, MD

First Day Hikes in All 50 States on New Year’s Day

National Kids to Parks Day collaborator, America’s State Parks, announced that all 50 state park systems will sponsor First Day Hike programs on January 1st, 2013. A New Year’s Day hike outside is a great way to to start the year. Check out their website for a hiking site near where you live. And then mark the best places for when you come back on NPT’s National Kids to Parks Day- May 18th!

Buddy Bison

Buddy Bison, our lovable woolly mascot encourages kids to explore outdoors, the parks are yours! Visit the Buddy Bison section of our site to learn more about our school program, and how you can get your own Buddy Bison and share your park adventures and photos. Did you know that proceeds from Buddy Bison sales help us get under-served kids to their local parks?